Docking My Tot

About a month ago, I mentioned how much Sterling and I were loving our Dock A Tot in my Infant Top 10 List and as the weeks have gone by, this multi-functional nest has become one of my most essential and recommended items in our home.

The Dock A Tot is a lightweight docking station that is handmade in Europe and created as a solution for a more comfortable and supportive sleeping frame for infants and children.

Made from 100% cotton and materials that will not harbour heat, allowing the best possible micro-climate and breathability. Dock A Tot is also Oeko-tex certified and passes the standards for healthy textiles which means it is free of harmful substances.

The cover, which is available in tons of adorable prints and patterns, is also machine washable, which is amazing, as I’ve learned how messy babies can be. I have the Bananas For You print and love how on-trend (and gender neutral) it is.

We’ve found it perfect for lounging, playing, chilling, resting and snuggling and lately we’ve been using as part of his supervised tummy time. By placing Sterling with the round bumper under his chest and armpits, he can strengthen his neck and has began to reach for colourful things in front of him. Sterling also sleeps securely for hours (only on his back) allowing me to work, cook and clean the house. The snug fit of the Dock A Tot is to resemble the womb, comforting him to fall and remain asleep.

We also love how portable and lightweight it is. When planning a day out to visit family and friends, we’ve brought the Dock A Tot with us to ensure Sterling has a comfortable spot to lounge and nap. We kept the packaging and cardboard it came in to ensure it stays clean and help keep its shape during the transporting. Last week, our Dock A Tot joined Sterling and I in Miami, fitting perfectly in my luggage and was the perfect place to sleep and to move throughout the condo for lounging.

We have the Deluxe + which is meant for 0-8 months and cannot wait to get the Grand for Sterling when he’s 9-36 months. I have and will continue to recommend it to excepting families, as I can’t imagine our home without it during the last 2 months.

I received products compliments of and/or in collaboration with Dock A Tot, but all opinions are 100% my own. If you are interested in working together in please contact me (barbara.ann.solomon@gmail.com) or Krista at Shine Influencers (krista@shineinfluencers.com).

Photography by the amazing Scarlet O’Neill during our family shoot.
Fox outfit: So’Dorable, Swaddle blanket: Aden and Anais Silky Soft Swaddle in Sahara

Our Son Sterling


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It’s been just over 2 months since our son blessed our family and filled our home with an indescribable love. When I got pregnant I got excited to prepare for a family shoot and knew there would be only one photographer I wanted to capture the love and craziness of our family.

Scarlet O’Neill is a Toronto-based wedding photographer, whose work has been featured basically everywhere. I found her while working with Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay and fell in love with the way she documented love stories. I knew that she would be the perfect person to share this special time with.

Linen & Swaddle Blanket: Little Unicorn

Our day together was filled with laughter and sharing stories. Here are some of my favourite photos we shot with her. And don’t forget to follow Scarlet on Instagram for a beautiful feed filled with wedding and lifestyle inspiration.

A quick update about Sterling at 2 months old: he’s beginning to smile, he loves to splash in the bath, cuddle during story time. He’s travelled (like a pro) to Florida and enjoyed 10 days in the sun exploring Miami.

  

Thank you Scarlet for capturing our family perfectly. We absolutely love these photos.

My Birth Story

It’s been a month since my son, Sterling Emerson surprised us 2 weeks earlier than expected. In those final weeks of my pregnancy, I had a lot of plans in the works, from appointments, meetings to blog posts. So when labour started for me, I sat there in the hospital sending out emails notifying everyone to expect a delay.

My due date was January 18th and during the month of December I was in a lot of pain, finding it difficult to move especially in the evening and overnight. It was January 4th at midnight and Trevor and I were watching one of the late night talk shows, when he had fallen asleep. I was unable to get off the couch without his help at this point, so I woke him up so we could make our way to bed. Upon standing up, my water broke. Shocked, Trevor and I agreed that I should shower as he finished packing our bags, prepared snacks, loaded the car and took care of Monkey and Taco before heading to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 2 am and checked in with the maternity ward. I was told to relax and try to nap in the assessment room or go for a walk around the hospital and check in with the nurse every hour.

Hospital-walk

By 9:30 am they moved me into my birthing suite, where my amazing nurse Louise explained to me that I was only 1 cm dilated and they were going to hook me up to an IV and give me Oxytocin which would stimulate the uterine muscles giving me more intense contraction.

Screen Shot 2018-01-31 at 6.30.40 PM

By 2 pm, I got to 3 cm and it was time for the epidural. From there, thankfully, things moved along much quicker and within the next hour and a half I had gotten to 8 cm.  For me the epidural was crucial, the contractions had gotten so intense and I was beyond exhausted. With the help of the pain relieving drug I was able to nap and regain my strength for the next phase of labour.

Screen Shot 2018-01-31 at 6.30.53 PM

Just after 4 pm our families had arrived and Louise told me that we were almost ready to start pushing. With continuous encouragement from Trevor, I pushed for 15 minutes and at 4:53 pm, 2 minutes before sundown, on the coldest day of the year, our son was born. Sterling weighed 6.9 lbs and was absolutely perfect, those first few hours with him are ones I’ll never forget.

baby-negin

I am so grateful for the amazing nursing staff at Trillium Health Partners, who took care of every worry, anxiety and complication that arose during my labour.

Photography by Trevor Negin